Alex Ferguson stoked up the heat before today's high noon fourth round FA Cup meeting by telling Boro to splash the cash.

The Manchester United boss warned Boro to back his former Old Trafford assistant Steve McLaren in the transfer market or risk relegation.

And - while he didn't mention #5.5m striking target Dwight Yorke by name - he stands to get the first windfall if Riverside chiefs do cough up.

Sir Alex is convinced Boro have the right man in McLaren, but insists he needs support in the market.

"Steve has obviously not got the funds he thought he would get," he said. "But chairman Steve Gibson will know better than anyone that the only place to make money is in the Premiership. If you go down it can cost you #20m, so I just hope Steve gets the funds to survive. Even so it won't be an easy ride."

Ferguson, anxious to shift Yorke hot on the heels of stealing Diego Forlan from under Boro noses, added: "After a bad start Boro picked up, but in the last few weeks they have stopped scoring. I think Steve has proved he knows what he is doing in the transfer market. For example, Southgate was a good buy."